Lapland reveal ideas – 10 magical ways to surprise the kids

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Lapland multiple times with my children, and we’ve completely fallen in love with it – the snowy forests, the huskies, and of course, meeting Father Christmas himself. But I still remember that very first trip, and the joy of surprising the kids with the news that we were heading to Santa’s magical home. If you’re planning your own adventure and wondering how to reveal the surprise, here are ten creative and magical ways to tell your children they’re off to Lapland. 10 Lapland reveal ideas to give you the best start to your trip.

Read our complete guide to Lapland with kids here.

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👩‍💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.

*AD / This post contains affiliate links & as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also have been compensated in this post either financially or with products / stays. To read more see our Disclosure Policy.

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1. A letter from Father Christmas

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One of the classic ways to reveal your family trip to Lapland is to have a personalised letter arrive from Father Christmas himself. These can be found on Etsy or created at home, and can include the exact date and details of your trip. Bonus points if it comes with an ‘official’ North Pole wax seal.

You can make this even more magical by having the letter arrive through the post with festive stamps or a “North Pole” return address. Another idea is to age the paper slightly with tea or coffee to give it that authentic, old-fashioned look. Inside the letter you could include hints about what your children will do in Lapland – perhaps Father Christmas mentions the huskies are ready to take them on a sleigh ride or that the reindeer are waiting to meet them. It instantly turns the reveal into a story rather than simply an announcement, which makes the moment even more magical.

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2. Travel ticket for Lapland

Once again these are easy to create yourself, or Etsy is a wonderful place to pick them. They can have all of your travel details, your child’s name and some of the information about your trip – dates of travel, some of the activities you will be doing.

Children love the idea of “official” travel documents, and a Lapland ticket makes the adventure feel real. You could present the tickets in an envelope marked “Special Delivery from Santa’s Workshop” or hide them inside a Christmas card. Some families even laminate the tickets so children can keep them as a souvenir from the trip. Adding icons of snowflakes, reindeer or Santa’s sleigh helps make the reveal feel extra festive.

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3. Unwrap a snow-themed gift box – Lapland reveal ideas

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Wrap up a box with snow boots, mittens, thermal socks and a little sign saying “You’ll need these… we’re off to Lapland!” You could even include fake snow or a snowy scene printed inside the lid.

Another lovely touch is to layer the items so the reveal builds slowly. First they unwrap warm gloves, then woolly hats, then maybe a scarf with reindeer on it, before finally discovering the note explaining why they need all this winter gear. This kind of reveal builds anticipation and makes the moment last longer.

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4. Lapland treasure hunt reveal

Create a winter-themed treasure hunt around the house. Each clue could mention something snowy or festive, and the final clue leads to a note or small suitcase with “You’re going to Lapland!” written inside.

For example, clues could mention things like “Find the place where stockings hang” or “Look somewhere cold where ice might form”. The final stop could reveal a suitcase filled with snow gear or a printed map showing where Lapland is in Finland. Treasure hunts are brilliant because they turn the reveal into an adventure before the trip has even begun.

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5. Reveal t-shirts or pyjamas – Lapland reveal ideas

Get customised t-shirts or Christmas pyjamas printed with something like “Lapland – I’m on my way!” Wrap them up as an early Christmas gift or place them in their beds for them to discover.

Matching family pyjamas also make brilliant photos when the children realise what the message means. Many families use these reveal outfits again during their trip to Lapland, especially for festive photos in the resort. It’s a simple but very effective surprise idea.

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6. A video message from Father Christmas – Lapland reveal ideas

There are apps and websites (like Portable North Pole) that let you create a personalised video from Santa himself. These videos are incredibly convincing for younger children. Father Christmas can say your child’s name, mention their age, and even talk about their upcoming trip to Lapland. Watching Santa invite them to visit him in person is a magical moment.

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7. Snow globe surprise – Lapland reveal ideas

Place a miniature scene of Lapland inside a snow globe with a little sign saying “See you soon!”. You can find custom-made ones online or even try a DIY version if you’re crafty. When the children shake the snow globe and notice the message inside, it becomes a magical moment of discovery. Snow globes are also a lovely keepsake afterwards and a reminder of the day they discovered they were going to Lapland.

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8. Christmas morning reveal

If you’re travelling around Christmas time, wrap the tickets or reveal in a present under the tree. Or have Father Christmas leave a note saying he’ll see them very soon in person.

This idea works particularly well if the trip is happening shortly after Christmas. You could place the reveal gift right at the back of the tree so it’s opened last, turning it into the ultimate festive surprise.

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9. Frozen breakfast surprise – Lapland reveal ideas

Turn breakfast into a winter wonderland – piles of pancakes with powdered sugar “snow”, snowflake sprinkles or mugs of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. The reveal note could be hidden under a plate or inside a napkin so the surprise appears mid-breakfast.

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10. – Lapland reveal ideas – countdown calendar

Create your own ‘Lapland Countdown’ calendar, like an advent calendar but personalised to your trip. Each door or envelope reveals a clue until the final one announces the trip.

This idea works especially well if you’re revealing the trip well in advance. Each day could contain a small hint about the activities awaiting in Lapland – perhaps one day mentions reindeer, another husky sledging, and another snowmobiles. By the final day, children usually start guessing what’s coming.

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Our own Lapland reveal experience

We planned our trip to Lapland for so long that we knew we wanted to do a special Lapland reveal, surprising the kids with a trip to see Father Christmas. We were so excited about this trip, it was something we’d been dreaming about for a few years – it’s been on thebucket list and it’s something we’d been planning and planning.

It was so hard to keep it a secret but we knew we wanted to leave it until the last possible minute. So with it all booked, we had to tell our children and decided to do it as a big surprise.

Lapland reveal – surprising the kids

The children had no idea we had been planning this trip and we started off by calling them in to the lounge to find our wicker picnic basket all closed up. We told them to look inside where they would find a surprise.

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When they opened it up there were plenty of winter clothes (see our packing list for Lapland for lots of clothing inspiration), everything they would need to keep warm in the snow and a note..

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It told them we were heading to Lapland to meet Father Christmas.

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They were so excited, jumping up and down and couldn’t believe they were going to visit him for real, in his home town in Lapland.

It was a wonderful moment, to let them know we had this trip planned and that we were going to be leaving in the next few days to travel to Saariselka, one of Santa Claus’s home towns (he has a few) and to meet him, have a go at riding with the husky dogs and taking a reindeer ride and having lots of fun in the snow.

All those magical, winter activities associated with a trip to Lapland. It was a fantastic experience and one we will treasure forever.

Read more with how we got on during our first ever trip to Lapland and our magical visit to Finland.

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5 Top tips for organising your own Lapland reveal

1. Keep it simple – the trip is going to feel overwhelming so a simple reveal will allow the information to sink in.
2. Have low expectations – reveals don’t always go to plan!
3. Have a YouTube video of a trip to Lapland ready to show the children what they might get to see/do.
4. Try to do the reveal close to when you are leaving so there’s not too much of a build-up.
5. Cuddly toys in a reveal can be a good way to give kids something to hold on to (literally) to make it seem real.

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Why revealing a Lapland trip is so magical

A trip to Lapland is one of the most magical holidays families can take. Visiting Father Christmas in his snowy home, meeting reindeer and huskies, and seeing the Arctic wilderness feels like stepping straight into a Christmas story.

Because the trip itself is so special, many parents choose to create an unforgettable “Lapland reveal” moment when telling their children about the holiday. Whether it’s a letter from Santa, a treasure hunt or a surprise gift box, the reveal becomes part of the memory of the trip itself.

Children often remember the moment they found out about Lapland just as much as the trip itself. That’s why taking a little time to plan a fun reveal can make the whole experience even more magical.

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FAQ – Lapland reveal ideas

When should you tell children about a Lapland trip?
Many families choose to reveal the trip shortly before departure so the excitement doesn’t build for too long. However, if you’re using a countdown calendar or advent-style reveal, telling them earlier can also be lots of fun.

What is the best way to surprise kids with a Lapland trip?
The best Lapland reveal ideas are interactive and magical. Letters from Father Christmas, treasure hunts, and personalised videos from Santa are particularly popular. We hope all our Lapland reveal ideas have helped.

Should you keep a Lapland trip secret from children?
Many parents do keep the trip secret so they can create a memorable surprise reveal. However, older children may enjoy helping with the planning too.

Do Lapland reveal ideas work for older children?
Yes. While younger children may love Santa-themed surprises, older children often enjoy treasure hunts, winter clothing or travel tickets that make the adventure feel real.

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More Lapland posts

Check out Our ultimate guide to Lapland with kids and our trip report of Visiting Lapland with Santa’s Lapland. Read all about our trip Skiing in Ruka, Lapland and Meeting Father Christmas at Pohjolan Pritti, Lapland. And don’t miss our essential guide. to A packing list for Lapland.